We are trying to get into the senior market more. We have only done about 2 senior sessions so far and we would really love to do more.

How do you market to seniors?

Do you contact schools and if so what do you ask them or tell them? How do you approach it?

We can use any advice.

I am thinking about going full time with the business because I really need out of my current job, I am just not sure how to market and get more business.

Thanks.

I think it's a great question and i know there are a lot of folks here who do senior work. I think contacting the school might be a possible angle but I would have to think the best way to go about is referrals. You said that you have done several thus far. How have those turned out? Would you consider going back to your clients and asking them for referrals with the possibility of offering some sort of referral credit (towards future shoots or print discounts)?

I think it would only take one good referral to have things spread pretty quickly. Some schools put out papers so a small ad might help. Additionally think about networking at various locations (church, public school functions, sporting events etc). Dropping your card off at various locations frequented by teens...been a while since I was a teen so not sure what those are any more. Maybe salons...clothing boutiques etc etc.

Not that I have any experience in this area, but this is how I would try and tackle it.

Good luck.

a lot of people use student ambassadors, which is one to four students per high school sent out to spread the word and get you appointments. Finding them is the first challenge. Some have suggested doing a model search to get a really pretty girl to do a session and do your marketing for you. They can get a commission or just free prints. Some offer prizes for the ambassador who books the most appointments.

Arm the ambassadors with prints, albums, postcards, business cards or whatever they can hand out. Have them get email addresses of all the juniors in the school. Have them drag all their friends to a session.

wow!! that is really such a great idea!! I will be doing that!

wow!! that is really such a great idea!! I will be doing that!

1. WOM (I did a free session for a friends sister last year and have been getting referals from that ever since)
2. Senior Ambassadors (didn't do this last year, but trying it this year)
3. Myspace

You have to be willing to push your senior ambassadors, too. They are kids with busy lives and if you dont keep in constant contact with them, they will forget what you want them to do. They get their stuff and then they're done as far as they are concerned unless you keep after them. Learned THAT the hard way the first year. heh

Have you looked into advertising in the high school paper? I did that, ran the ad full page for a deal cause they needed someone to fill the space (room for negotiating in this business of advertising!). I got about 10 seniors from that one ad and from there bam, the friends of friends of friends...I don't do a lot of seniors. Since I don't have help in the studio and it is just "me" shooting I found they were high maintenance with the whole ordering process and I really don't have the time to market products to them. They would end up asking me what I had, even coming up with product ideas for me.

I have a friend, Mark Rice, his entire biz is seniors and I would venture to say the average order for him is over $800. I found people were spending $600 with hardly any effort on my part, so if you do them maximize the potential and watch the $$ roll in and have fun with extremely movitated models!

Jenny

Regarding student ambassadors, you may find that cash is incentive enough. Offer $25 for signing a $200 session. That quickly adds up for a teen looking for clothing money.

Keeping in contact is important, as mentioned above. They could quickly get discouraged if they don't sign anyone right away. They really need to show off their pictures and any way you can facilitate that would be great.

Oh, also something I want to try is to offer a bonus, just like a professional sales person could earn. Use a point system, where they get a certain number of points for each session they book. They can also get points for finding cool locations for shoots, props, assisting at a shoot, whatever. When they accumulate enough points (with a minimum number of points coming from appointments) they get a nice bonus. If they get you 20 clients you could easily afford to give them a nice chunk of change, say $500. Or you could also offer an iPod as a bonus. Whatever you can afford with your level of income and profit goals.